U.S. hits 'al-Qaida terrorist' in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 3 (UPI) -- A "known al-Qaida terrorist" in southern Somalia was the target of a U.S. airstrike, which injured eight people, a Pentagon official said Monday.

Missiles Sunday struck a building in Dhoble, Somalia, reputed to be gathering place for terror suspects but officials couldn't confirm the extent of causalities.

"On March 2, the United States conducted an attack against a known al-Qaida terrorist in southern Somalia," Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman confirmed.

He said the U.S. military works with partners in the region when conducting operations.

"We share common goals with respect to fighting terrorism," Whitman said. "We will continue to seek out, identify, capture and, if necessary, kill terrorists where they plan their activities, carry out their operations or seek safe harbor."

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe echoed that sentiment.

"The United States is going to go after al-Qaida and al-Qaida-affiliated operatives wherever we find them," Johndroe said Monday. "They are plotting and planning all over the world to destabilize the world, to inflict terror, and where we find them, we are going to go after them."